Isabella Rossellini Joins Alice Rohrwacher’s English-Language Debut “Three Incestuous Sisters”

Italian director Alice Rohrwacher’s upcoming English-language feature “Three Incestuous Sisters” has confirmed a high-profile cast that includes Isabella Rossellini, Dakota Johnson, Saoirse Ronan, Jessie Buckley and Josh O’Connor. The adaptation of Audrey Niffenegger’s illustrated gothic novel is co-written by Rohrwacher and novelist Ottessa Moshfegh, with production backed by Indian Paintbrush and TeaTime Pictures.

Variety Magazine

Principal photography began in April 2026 on the island of Stromboli, with a ten-week schedule that also includes shooting in Rome. The film is financed by Indian Paintbrush; Dakota Johnson and Ro Donnelly produce for TeaTime Pictures, while Steven Rales produces for Indian Paintbrush. Italian line producer Fandango handles local logistics.

Variety Magazine

• Rohrwacher is a two-time Cannes prizewinner for “The Wonders” (2014) and “Happy as Lazzaro” (2018); her most recent feature “La Chimera” (2023) starred Rossellini and O’Connor, competed at Cannes, and was released in the U.S. by Neon.

Variety Magazine

• The story’s setting echoes Rossellini’s family history: her father Roberto Rossellini began his 1949 affair with Ingrid Bergman on the set of “Stromboli” on the same island where the new film is being shot.

Variety Magazine

• Niffenegger’s novel follows three isolated sisters whose lives are disrupted by the arrival of a lighthouse keeper’s son.

Variety Magazine

• Alice Rohrwacher – director and co-writer, making her first English-language feature.

Variety Magazine

• Isabella Rossellini – veteran actress, daughter of Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman.

Variety Magazine

• Dakota Johnson – actress and co-producer (TeaTime Pictures).

Variety Magazine

• Ro Donnelly – producer (TeaTime Pictures).

Variety Magazine

• Steven Rales – producer (Indian Paintbrush).

Variety Magazine

• Ottessa Moshfegh – co-writer of the screenplay.

Variety Magazine

• Indian Paintbrush – financing production company.

Variety Magazine

• Early 2026: European Film Academy honors Rohrwacher with the Achievement in World Cinema Award.

Variety Magazine

• April 2026: Filming commences on Stromboli; ten-week schedule includes Rome.

Variety Magazine

The ten-week shoot involves five principal actors, two locations (Stromboli and Rome), and two production companies (TeaTime Pictures and Indian Paintbrush).

Variety Magazine

The project unites a legacy of Italian cinema with contemporary Hollywood talent, marking a strategic cross-border collaboration that could broaden Rohrwacher’s audience and position the film for major festival circuits.

Variety Magazine

The production utilizes the volcanic island of Stromboli, located off the coast of Sicily, as its primary setting, while additional scenes are scheduled in Rome. The choice of Stromboli connects the narrative to the island’s cinematic legacy, notably the 1949 film set where Roberto Rossellini began his affair with Ingrid Bergman.

Variety Magazine

By blending historic Italian film heritage with a star-studded international cast, “Three Incestuous Sisters” exemplifies a transnational effort poised to attract global attention.

Variety Magazine